Boeing tries again to launch NASA astronauts for the first time after latest round of repairs
Boeing geared up again Wednesday for its first astronaut launch. Boeing is preparing for its first astronaut launch, after a series of technical issues delayed the launch for years. This is the third attempt for NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in Boeing's Starliner capsule. The astronauts will test the Starliner's systems on their way to the International Space Station before aiming for a touchdown in the western U.S. The launch will take place after a successful test flight in 2019 without a crew was disrupted by software issues and a do-over mission in 2022 was delayed further due to parachute and other issues. Major issues with a computer’s power unit at the pad had to be replaced by rocket maker United Launch Alliance.
Опубликовано : 10 месяцев назад от Associated Press в Travel Science
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Boeing geared up again Wednesday for its first astronaut launch, held up for years by safety concerns.
It was the third launch attempt for NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in Boeing’s Starliner capsule. Rocket-related trouble thwarted the first two countdowns.
The astronauts will test Starliner’s systems on the way to the International Space Station, where they’ll spend at least a week before aiming for a touchdown in the western U.S.
NASA hired Boeing along with SpaceX after the space shuttles retired to transport astronauts to and from the space station. SpaceX has been ferrying astronauts since 2020.
Boeing’s capsule rocketed into orbit in 2019 without a crew, but that test flight was cut short by software problems. Boeing had better luck on the do-over mission in 2022, but parachute and other issues later were discovered, delaying Starliner’s crew debut even further.
Minutes before Saturday’s planned liftoff, a computer’s power unit failed at the pad that had to be replaced by rocket maker United Launch Alliance. And a bad valve inside the Atlas V rocket scrapped the launch attempt in early May.
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Темы: Aviation, Airlines, Space, NASA